The only title that has eluded French football giants Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in recent years is the Champions League trophy. But that could change this season, if star striker Neymar is to be believed. The Parisians - with global football icon Neymar in their squad - have vowed to give their best to win the Champions League as they began their mid-season Qatar Winter Tour training camp yesterday.
PSG took a six-hour flight to Doha soon after their 3-1 win over Caen in Ligue 1 on Wednesday, but there were no signs of tiredness as die-hard fans of the Qatari-owned club greeted their stars at Aspire training pitch where they trained for a couple of hours.
Neymar, the world’s most expensive player, was centre of attention as fans who came in huge numbers were itching to catch a glimpse of the Brazilian superstar. The fans also relished to see Uruguayan forward Edinson Cavani and French prodigy Kylian Mbappe in action at the Aspire pitch along with other stars.
Neymar, who was representing Barcelona when they eliminated PSG in the last-16 stage after dramatically overturning a 4-0 deficit last season, said his aim is to win all the titles for PSG including the Champions League.
“I would like to see PSG winning all the titles. Champions League is definitely our main target,” Neymar told reporters ahead of the team’s training session.
“Our team’s preparation for the second half of the season is on track. We are going well and hopefully we will achieve our targets this season,” said the 25-year-old.
“We are hoping to benefit from the Qatar Winter Tour as the team is targeting a better show in the coming months,” he said.
Coach Unai Emery’s PSG, who enjoyed a fine run in group stage of the Champions League, will face Cristiano Ronaldo-powered Real Madrid in the last-16 stage with the first leg scheduled on February 14.
“Real Madrid is a very strong team and it’s going to be a challenging game as PSG is also a very good team with outstanding players. It’s going to be a good contest and I am very confident about doing well,” he said.
With the 2018 World Cup just over six months away, the Brazilian superstar declared his country as one the favourites to lift the Cup for sixth time.
“ I am very much confident of Brazil doing well in the World Cup. All teams will be tough and I feel we will start as one of the favourites,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mbappe who celebrated his 19th birthday on Wednesday with a goal and an assist against Caen said he was eyeing to play crucial role in PSG’s bid in winning major titles.
“ We are doing well and so far our progress has been very well,” he said.
Cavani, who also scored against Caen to drew him to within one of Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s club record of 156, expressed delight on his achievement.
